THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
The situations of these runs or bowers are much varied. I found them both 
on the plains studded with Myalls {Acacia pendula) and other small trees, and 
in the brushes clothing the lower hills. They are considerably longer and 
more avenue-like than those of the Satin Bower-Bird, being in many instances 
three feet in length. They are outwardly built of twigs, and beautifully lined 
vdth tall grasses, so disposed that their heads nearly meet; the decorations 
are very profuse, and consist of bivalve shells, crania of small mammaha and 
other bones bleached by exposure to the rays of the sun or from the camp-fires 
of the natives. Evident indications of high instinct are manifest throughout 
the whole of the bower and decorations formed by this species, particularly 
in the niamier in which the stones are placed vdthin the bower, apparently to 
keep the grasses vdth wliich it is lined fixed firmly in their places ; these stones 
diverge from the mouth of the run on each side so as to form little paths, while 
the immense collection of decorative materials are placed in a heap before 
the entrance of the avenue, the arrangement being the same at both ends. 
In some of the larger bowers, wliich had evidently been resorted to for many 
years, I have seen half a bushel of bones, shells, etc., at each of the entrances. 
I frequently found these structures at a considerable distance from the rivers, 
from the borders of which they could alone have procured the shells and small, 
round, pebbly stones ; their collection and transportation must therefore be 
a task of great labour. I fully ascertained that these runs, like those of the 
Satin Bower-Bird, formed the rendezvous of many individuals.” 
Capt. S. A. Wliite ivrites: “ Once a very plentiful bird, but rapidly dis¬ 
appearing. During my trip down through N.W. Queensland and N.S.W. 
on the return from Darwin these birds were often seen. They could be easily 
distinguished by their flight. Upon one occasion when we were stopped by 
rain and were in camp for a couple of days these birds came on to our dinuig 
table and took the crumbs. The stocking of the country and destruction of the 
timber is aU helping to exterminate them. Where this bird was once verj* 
plentiful on the River Murray m S.A. years ago there is not one to be seen now. 
“ C. guttata. 
“Met with tliis bird in the iVIacDoimeU Ranges m 1913 (see Transactions 
Royal Society of <S.A., Vol. XXX^dII., 1914, p. 437), also met -with this bird 
in the Everard Ranges in 1914. Several bowers were seen, generally placed 
under a large native fig tree {Ficus platypoda) in the deep ravines of the 
range ; in one instance quite a barrow load of bleached snail shells were 
arranged in front of the bower. The birds w'ere very shy and seldom seen.” 
Whitlock, wTiting from Central Australia, says: “ I "was at once struck 
vdth its richer coloration in comparison with birds from the Ulterior of Western 
Australia. The under-parts especially were of a much brighter yellow tint, 
326 
